Just being a dark elf in Warhammer

Olaine shivered under the sky's cold gaze, and he felt naked, without shelter. The forest was diverse and vast, with many open spaces within its borders, vast meadows, and barren bushes. He did not like this environment. He liked the dusk deep in the forest, his life passing by in the rushing streams, the darkest valleys, lurking in the shadows, and he did not like these spaces without leaves.

When Orlaine opened his eyes again, the scene changed, and he found himself in a forest without color, a valley made of inky black and dazzling white, and nothing could alleviate this cruelty. As he sat up, he heard the crisp sound of dry leaves, and to his surprise, he realized that the sound came from his own skin. He looked down at his body and found that it had become faded, fragile and covered with dust like everything else.

"I remember..." Orion stopped mid-sentence, surprised at the hoarseness of his voice, and as his eyes adjusted to the harsh light, he saw the plain of pale dust, divided into thousands of perfect squares, separated by arrow-straight white wild trees that stretched into the distance and disappeared beyond the horizon.

"I've been here?" he whispered, and one of the trees was within his reach. He stretched out his hand to try to grab it, but he couldn't. The tree evaded him.

Then, one by one, Orion's senses disappeared, leaving only the echo of the past, no other sound, no sight, not even smell. Only his ancestors, telling him about the glorious life before, guiding him in the darkness, accompanying him with song. The ancestors surrounded him and supported him, noble and firm, burning with the heat of divinity.

As the ancestors walked together, Orion realized that his past life was no longer just words. The ancestors' songs drew strong images in his mind, upright giants, with broad and powerful muscles, and tall and strong antlers on their heads. He slowed his pace, standing in shame before the ancestors. What right did he have to walk among these proud kings? The ancestors' stories were epic, each leading the forest deeper into wildness, each binding the subjects more tightly to Ariel's rule, while his story was just a ridiculous tragedy.

"I failed," Orion said, opening his hands and staring at his broad, scarred palms.

The voice died away, and Orion looked up. The other Orions no longer walked in front, but stood in a circle around him.

The faces of the ancestors were both cruel and serene, each unique, carved into the noble image of their flesh, but they were obviously one. They approached in a silent movement, and Orion flinched under their gaze until he realized that there was no judgment in their eyes, only determination.

"We will not fail," one of them said, raising his chin.

"But look at me, my body is broken, I have nothing, the balance is broken. My hunt ended in disgrace, how can I not fail? All I have left now is my flame."

"We are the souls of the forest, we will not fail, and we keep our promises." An ancestor walked to Orion's side. He was taller than Orion and held a large and worn axe. He pressed the axe against Orion's chest and looked at Orion meaningfully and said.

Orion shook his head in confusion, and then his soul returned to his body again. He gasped and found that he could not move on the ground. He could not even turn his head. He could only see his breath turning into mist in the air above his face. He tried to get up, but in vain. He just barely raised his head and coughed up some blood.

"My love! Don't be afraid, we are together, I am with you, no matter what happens, it is not your fault." Ariel saw Orion's eyes open and exclaimed. Her voice was tight, her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she held Orian's hand tightly.

"Ariel, we are the incarnation of the gods, we are immortal." Orian was surprised to see Ariel sitting next to him, and then he said sharply. He was very angry because he saw the pity on Ariel's face.

"Yes, we are fragments of Aisha and Kunos, no matter what we forget, we must remember this."

"What should we do now? Do we have a ceremony?" Orian said reluctantly, and the pain made him frown.

Ariel did not answer for a while. She was pale and worried, staring at Orian's immobile body in thought.

"Ariel!"

"No, dear, there is no ceremony, no etiquette, the forest will guide us in any way it chooses, and then we just have to wait." Ariel took a deep breath, looked around, and pulled her thoughts back to reality, and then she added, "I promise you, I'm still here."

"I'm here too." Orian forced himself to look directly into Ariel's eyes, and after a few seconds, he slowly said.

"I know." After the two looked at each other for a moment, Ariel leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against Orian's.

"I'm sorry..." Orian sighed with satisfaction and grinned at Ariel. His heart was full of pain, but Ariel's words shone in his mind, clearer than the winter sun. He spoke with difficulty, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

A pale shape was approaching, a gray wolf that looked as calm and peaceful as ice, the spirit of the forest, Usnar. Orlean's sight caught the gray wolf, he knew the gray wolf, the beast, Bruyd.

"Usnar?" Ariel showed a simple joy.

Orlean stopped looking at the gray wolf, he turned his gaze to Ariel, he imagined what Ariel used to look like, when he was still a mortal, he tried to get up and hug Ariel, but he couldn't stand up.

"We often lose our way." Usnar's mouth let out a howl.

"I will explain my behavior... My mind is not under my control..." Orlean panted, he knew that the word lost was said to him.

"There used to be a tower here, and the great being planted it here." Usnar continued, as if he didn't hear Orlean.

"You are talking about the distant past." Ariel's smile gradually disappeared.

"I'm talking about nature, Ariel. You shouldn't have come here a long time ago. Your nature is to bind, prune and hunt. It flows in your blood and is branded in your bones. You can never get rid of it." Usnar's words were without any emotion.

Orlean closed his eyes. He expected such accusations.

"Usnar, dear friend, why do you say this? Why do you speak to me like a stranger?" Ariel shook his head in confusion.

"This land has been changed and harmed by your greed. This is the mark you left on history, distorting and imprisoning the beauty of nature." Usnar's voice began to have emotion, becoming more angry with each word.

"Why do you say these words? Every action we do is balanced by another action, and every action is matched by another action. You know how much we care, Usnar. You know our loyalty to the forest. Why do you speak like this?"

"Blessing, it was a curse from the beginning!" Gray Wolf's voice trembled with anger.

"Do you think his arrival will make the forest better?" Ariel narrowed his eyes and pointed at Dacus's departing back.

"Yes! Whatever changes he brings are better than what you bring. He is the master of this forest! We and the forest are shaped by his will."

"So what do you want us to do, Usnar?" Ariel asked after exchanging glances with Orian.

Orian, who was lying on the ground, saw the tears flashing in Ariel's eyes.

"So, Queen Oak, will you listen to my advice? Like before?" The gray wolf regained his composure and asked after staring at Ariel for a moment.

"What do you want us to do?" Ariel repeated.

"Even now, you can repair the damage you have done and leave this forest. The choice is yours, Ariel. Go now, lay your love on the deathbed, say goodbye to the past, and within a season, your mark will begin to fade. Nature will reclaim its territory and life will begin again. As for your people, magic, horses and fire... the forest will obey his will." The gray wolf howled softly, with a sense of urgency in his tone, and at the end it cast its eyes on Daquus's back.

"What about the Morgul?"

"Disease is part of the forest, Ariel, you are not."

"Usnar, my oldest friend, I know." Ariel nodded, tears flowing freely on her cheeks, she whispered, her voice so soft that only Orion could hear.

Orion was about to speak, eager to explain his actions to Usnar more clearly, but before he could speak, Usnar had turned and left. Then, his eyes fell into darkness, as if a curtain had been thrown over the night sky, even the sound of rain hitting fallen leaves was muffled. He stumbled forward blindly in the darkness, trying to follow Ariel.

Then the darkness was replaced by a dazzling flash, and Orlean howled and covered his eyes with his hands. The cry was so terrible that he couldn't tell whether it came from Ariel or some animal. The glare gradually faded, and he opened his eyes.

"Now I understand that we must keep our original promise. But our love will never disappear, no matter what happens. Start, my beloved, I'm ready." Orlean saw Ariel fall to the ground and tremble violently. He could feel that Ariel's body was shaking because of sadness. He wanted to hug Ariel, his heart struggling in pain, and his eyes were full of helplessness and sadness. But... he sighed and said calmly.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Tears welled up from Ariel's eyes, and the power wrapped around her fingertips, pulling out more roots from the ground, and each rising root held Orlean tighter.

Orlean's back was arched by the rising roots, blood foam flowed from his lips, and his body was shaking under the action of the roots. When he realized what Ariel was doing, he gave Ariel an encouraging smile. He looked at Ariel tenderly, trying to make Ariel understand his feelings. Although he could not speak, his eyes were full of love and compassion. He knew that he was about to leave this world forever, but he hoped to use the communication of the heart to tell Ariel that he would always be in Ariel's heart, and death could not separate them.

Ariel's wailing resounded through the open space, her voice filled with endless sadness and despair. Her heart trembled, tears blurred her vision, but she still acted firmly. In her heart, Orlean was the person she loved most, and Orlean's departure made her feel extremely painful and sad. She hoped to retain Orlean and let Orlean stay with her, but reality took Orlean away ruthlessly.

Orlean felt an invisible force surging around him, and he closed his eyes after showing an encouraging smile. At that moment, his heart was filled with deep blessings for Ariel, and he hoped that Ariel could understand his intentions.

Orlean's body was torn apart, so badly that Ariel couldn't find a place to hug him.

Helpless Ariel knelt there and wailed constantly, her body trembling, and tears flowing like a spring. Her heart was full of longing and attachment to Orlean, and every cry seemed to be a final farewell to Orlean. The sadness was buried deep in her heart, making it almost unbearable for her.

The cry echoed in the silent open space, as if telling the world about her grief and helplessness. She didn't even notice that the weather had begun to change. Snowflakes began to fall quietly, and white snowflakes danced in the air, as if mourning for her sadness and bringing a soft comfort to the pain in her heart.

Ariel's tears intertwined with the snowflakes, and accompanied by the whistling wind, her grief became part of the forest, forever remaining in this quiet land.

Orian watched Ariel staggering forward in the open space holding his bloody body, and he saw that Ariel's robe was covered with his blood. As Ariel staggered across the open space, Liv, the Twilight sisters, and the remaining Thorn sisters surrounded him. Led by Ariel, the maids walked towards an unlit coffin under the Oak of Ages.

Then Orion saw Ariel and Liv carrying his body to the cot. He noticed that there were other beings standing still around the cot as well. A crowd of mourners and stewards gathered under the Oak of Ages. He saw the being that had defeated him, the being he had tried to drive away. He saw most of the Woodland Lords of the Twelve, wearing wide black hoods, wreaths of ivy and mistletoe, hands blackened by ash.

However, it was not these beings that caught Orion's attention, but the long-dead Atomis lying beside the cot, and the body of a hound. The hound's open eyes disturbed him, out of place with the rest of the scene. The mourners could not see his soul suspended in the starlight, but the dead hound saw him, and the hound's eyes followed him as he fell toward his body.

As the flames consumed the body on the cot, Orion turned his eyes away from the hound, and he felt his soul scatter like seeds in a pod. Everything he had, everything he loved, everything he cherished, all disintegrated at this moment with the disappearance of his body, turning into invisible wind and whistling in the forest, drifting to all directions of the forest with the wind.

Orlean knew that this was the last moment, and he set his eyes on Ariel in the distance, and a feeling of reluctance, attachment and deep love surged in his heart. Ariel was everything in his life, and a concern that he could never give up. In his eyes, Ariel was so beautiful and noble, and everything about Ariel was deeply engraved in his heart and would never be erased.

Ariel's head was lowered, and her tears blurred her vision, but her eyes were still firmly fixed on the flames, watching her lover struggling in the flames in grief. Suddenly, a strong intuition surged in her heart, and she seemed to realize something. She slowly turned her head and cast her eyes on the soul of Orlean that was about to dissipate.

At that moment, her eyes flashed with deep attachment and reluctance, and her soul was also silently calling Orlean's name. It was a deep, inseparable bond between her and Orion, an eternal promise that their love would live on even if they were separated.

Seeing Ariel turn his head, Orion smiled at her, conveying relief. As Ariel watched, his soul faded and dissipated into the air.

The flames burned, and Ariel and the spectators remained motionless until only choking smoke and flickering ashes remained. One by one, the mourners left, placing ivy wreaths on the smoking pile before leaving, until only Dacreus, Ariel, and Liv were left.

Ariel wiped her tears, stood up awkwardly, brushed the ashes from her face, and turned to face Dacreus. She looked into Dacreus's dark pupils and smiled sadly.

"He's everywhere now."

Dacreus nodded, agreeing with Ariel's words.

With that, Ariel began to pour Orion's ashes into the wooden bowl. However, as she did so, her fingers touched something hard. She lifted the object from the coffin and held it up to the light.

Liv frowned in surprise. She had participated in this ceremony countless times, and it always went the same way. Although this ceremony was supposed to be held before the arrival of winter, not on the first day of spring. But things always went the same way. This time, something new happened, and for a moment she was unsure how to proceed.

Ariel rolled the object back and forth between her fingers and nodded in approval. She knew exactly what the sharp part was and why it was immune to flames.

"What is that?" Liv walked to Ariel and asked quietly.

"A snake tooth."

"I have not seen this, this is beyond my sight, something like this does not arrive by accident."

"You hand him the snake tooth, he knows." Ariel nodded, agreeing with Liv's words, then she handed the snake tooth to Liv and said.

After handing the snake fang to Darkus, Liv nodded to Darkus, and then took a step back from the fire. She opened her palms and whispered a few words to the pale sky.

“The last rose has faded, and there is no more song in the shade;

The waxy earth imprisons you until it thaws. "

"The waxy earth imprisons you until it thaws." Ariel calmed down with the familiarity of the ritual, and she nodded in response.

Darkus, who was standing aside, felt that the words seemed wrong? He knew that Orion would not come back, but he didn't say anything, and there was no need for him to say anything at this moment.

"Liv, did you see something?" Ariel poured the rest of Orion's ashes into the bowl and turned to face the Age Oak. She fixed her gaze on the tree and asked Liv who was standing behind her.

Faced with Ariel's inquiry, Liv seemed a little at a loss for a moment, and she was surprised by the deviation of the second ceremony. She turned her head and glanced at Darkus, but Darkus' eyes were directed at the Oak of Era. She shook her head and stretched her fingers, letting her long nails sparkle in the sun. Then she walked to Ariel's side and tried to look directly at Ariel. Ariel's body was filled with the power of the Oak of Time, and that It feels like gazing at the sun.

"I can't see the future, my queen. I've lost the ability to predict. I'm trapped. The more I stare, the less clear I can see." Liv chose her words carefully.

"Will they continue? While the forest sleeps, the enemies will advance and the spirits will retreat. We will be alone in the cold, without Orion and I..." Ariel's voice was firm as he said At last she closed her eyes, and after a moment, she continued, "Darkus? Can you guarantee their safety? People, magic, horses, and fire..."

"Of course, I promise." Darkus promised.

"Nestra, Arohan." Ariel nodded, her eyes wandering around the open space, and finally stopped on a pair of figures under the tree, she called.

Sister Twilight came over and knelt down not far from Ariel.

"My children, I am about to leave, don't be sad for me, don't cry for me. You must listen to Darkus's arrangements, welcome the new future, witness for me what I cannot witness, and swear to me. "

"I swear, mother."

"I swear, mother."

Ariel nodded, she turned her head and smiled at the sisters Darkus, Liv and Twilight who were standing there. When she was about to speak again, her robe suddenly glowed brighter and she found herself Drifting towards the Oak of Time. As her body melted into the sunlight, she smiled at her subjects who watched her in the clearing.

The procession passed through a dripping arch, melting snow and ice falling on the passing elves. Darkus raised his head as he walked through the arch, the cold meltwater soaking into his cheeks and making him shiver.

Liv led the team. The team was huge. Aslay, Druch, Enil and Druch all came. The believers of the Lord of Blades followed her steps, carrying their fallen comrades on their shoulders. corpse. Her gray-feathered owl Otto flew above the procession, and even Otto's owl call conveyed endless sadness.

The mournful procession passed through the woods, through silent glades and icy paths, the trees sighing silently to the sound of soft songs of mourning. Frozen ferns and thorns made way for the elves, and the forest's inhabitants mourned alongside the elves.

At last the procession came to a wide clearing of austere beauty, surrounded by tall trees like watchful sentinels, and slender green shoots cutting through the civilized earth. Darkus, who raised his head, saw the clearing open to the sky, a dull sky pierced with vivid purples and reds. Although he didn't know Aslay's funeral customs, he was sure it would be a very good final resting place.

As the procession circled the clearing, Aslay in the procession sang a heart-rending song of sorrow. The song resonated with Darkus, and he found himself unable to suppress the lamentation of his sorrow. He wanted to join in, but...he was only good at dancing. He really couldn't sing, so forget it.

As the queue turned into a circle, Liv walked to the center of the open space. She was wearing a silver feather dress, with a slender and noble figure. When she raised the staff made of woven branches, , Otto landed on her shoulders. The gems on her belt shimmered among the woven leaves, and her hair was woven with thorn leaves, but her face looked more haggard than when Darkus had seen her before.

"Death accelerates aging, even for Asrai." Darkus whispered to Finubar, who was standing next to him.

Finubar nodded silently, knowing that Darkos' words were not only superficial, but also a reminder to himself.

The elves carrying the dead gently put the bodies down, then took a step forward in unison, gently placed their comrades and relatives on the ground, and with Liv's guidance, they slowly retreated, leaving the dead surrounded in the center of the clearing.

Liv began to speak, her voice flowing like a spring, soft and beautiful, as if passing through the ripples of time. The words were full of ancient wisdom and heavy responsibilities, and every syllable carried memories of the past and worries about the future. This was a deep and sincere call, calling for unity, courage and hope, hoping to find a ray of light in the darkness and lead Aslai out of the predicament. However, the sadness in her eyes was unfathomable, a pain from the depths of her heart that was difficult to conceal.

Dakus listened quietly, he knew that Liv was asking the forest to accept these dead. A new official must be very aggressive when he takes office, but there is no need for this. He fully recognizes and respects this aspect, and he did not suggest that the dead be transformed into tree people in this situation.

Liv's speech at the beginning turned into singing, and her singing was like a wail, crossing the long river of time, evoking endless sorrow and sadness. When her gentle and moving singing reached a new height of sorrow, the Asrai followed the elegy, blending their own feelings into it, singing their thoughts about the past years and their beloved.

The singing penetrated the sky, gradually fading the glory of the day, and letting the night fall on the earth. The flickering orange light of the torch seemed particularly warm in the night, illuminating the open space, as if adding a layer of comfort to the elegy and dispelling the chill of the night.

"I didn't see any tools, so I just left them like this? It doesn't feel right to expose them outside..." Finnubar whispered to Dacus.

"Of course?" Dacus responded uncertainly, and then he asked, "What else can we do?"

"Bury them? Set up some tombstones to commemorate them? Make sure they are not forgotten." Dacus's question made Finnubar a little confused, and after a moment, he suggested.

"Like those dwarves did, sealing the dead in stone cages? No, this is different from Ulthuan and Naggaroth, there is a slight difference, imprisoning the soul in such a place is to deny its final journey."

"Journey?"

"Yes, journey. The forest will take back its... people, yes, people. They will become part of the great forest, they provide life to the forest and live forever. The continued beauty of the forest is their legacy, and what better memorial is there than the immortal soul of the forest?" Dakwus shook his head first, and after thinking, he responded, and unlike before, his voice was slightly louder this time. He said it not only to Finnubar, but also to the Asrai who were silently observing.

After Liv's singing ended, she walked out of the center of the clearing, and the elves separated to let her pass. But the elves did not follow her movement or return. The elves looked at Dakwus who was still preparing to say something.

"Let's go. Our duty to the dead has been fulfilled. We must let them have their own time under the stars. Let's have a good rest tonight. If there is anything, we will talk about it tomorrow." Feeling the gaze, Dakuus changed his words. His voice echoed in the night sky, and his words were full of sadness and heaviness.

The parade turned back and walked away, but the silence was like a heavy cloud hanging over everyone's heart. The Aslai stared at the starry sky silently, their faces full of nostalgia for their deceased relatives and worries about the future. The sadness and grief in their hearts could not be expressed in words. In this small-scale battle, they lost their relatives and comrades. Those relatives who once fought side by side with them have now left this world. They are heartbroken, but they also feel a little helpless.

"This is Athel Loren, everything is possible." Dacuus and Finnubar walked side by side. When they came to the open space and were about to part, he said to Finnubar. After seeing Finnubar nod, he smiled and said, "Don't think too much. Tomorrow, we will sit down and have a good talk."

At night, Beloda came to the camp where the Asur delegation was located...

(See if it's bragging, just ignore it if you don't want to.) (End of this chapter)